Golden Equator launches Brunei accelerator
Singapore’s Golden Equator has launched an accelerator in Brunei aimed at helping local small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) expand across Southeast Asia.
The program is being set up in partnership with Darussalam Enterprise, a Brunei government body aimed at driving economic growth through SME ecosystem support and the promotion of entrepreneurial culture. Focus sectors will include food and beverage (F&B), technology, agriculture, healthcare, and cosmetics.
Golden Equator will offer support through its network of venture capital firms, blockchain and cryptocurrency consultants, and other specialists, some of which are based in Spectrum, a technology and innovation business club that the firm established last year in Singapore alongside Korean research organization C&R Healthcare Global.
“Start-ups and SMEs are the way forward for our nation to grow and diversify our economy from oil and gas while providing more expansive employment opportunities to our local talents and graduates,” Javed Ahmad, CEO of Darussalam, said in a statement. “We are looking forward to working with Golden Equator, who has not only built a strong ecosystem in Southeast Asia through its businesses and extended community but also has a strong track record in the sectors we are focusing on such as F&B and technology.”
Founded in 2012, Golden Equator focuses on digital marketplaces, financial technology and enterprise services, as well as areas related to healthcare and urban technology. Last month, the firm’s investment unit Golden Equator Capital teamed up with Korea Investment Partners to launch a S$120 million ($87 million) technology fund targeting start-ups and SMEs in Southeast Asia as well as Korean companies looking to enter the region.
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